With Diesel reaching over £2 per litre, many believe the UK is in for protests. Petrol and diesel is being sold at extortionate prices, and the general public is getting sick of being ripped off. With the oil prices slightly dropping, in price, it fails to show at the pumps.
The people of Ireland have come together to protest fuel prices. They, too, are dismayed with the prices at the pump and have taken to the roads to show their dissatisfaction.
The roads in Dublin are blockaded; roads and major motorways have go slow protests. For 6 days, the protestors have been at it, and public order units have been deployed.
But do protests work, and are they worthwhile?
France is a country known for its protests and demonstrations, especially by farmers. When they turn out, Paris stops. Unity is the key to demonstrations, and the French have it.
Do protests work in the UK?
We can protest in the UK, but will it have an effect? In 2000, blockades were undertaken of refineries and fuel depots. This really had an impact, leaving the majority of petrol stations fueling police and NHS vehicles only.
What started in Essex spread all over the UK. So, did it do any good? After the protest ended, the government announced a freeze on fuel duties. The power of the people won.
But the blockades of 2000 would never happen today, as we are short of fuel for one. Then the army would be called in if a demonstration of this size ever happened again.
Since 2000, though, protests have done nothing like the 2000 blockade. It seems the government only listen when the country is on its knees.